Ramble in the Borders Duncanrig club enjoy walk through countryside
Duncanrig Rambling Club headed to the Scottish Borders for two walks near Lauder.
The high walk started just south of the historic coaching inn at Carfraemill.
The ‘Mill of Carfrae’ is first mentioned in ancient documents towards the end of the 12th century. William de Morville, Lord of Lauderdale, was one of the early owners of the mill and the surrounding lands.
The original part of Carfraemill was probably an inn – with the mill likely to have been on the other side of today’s road beside the Leader burn.
The ramblers followed good LRT up, passing Cadam Law and traversing around Several Rig; passing over the Howe before following the Whalplaw burn to Longcroft, passing a number old hill forts and also burial grounds.
This route was one of the historic trade routes linking the royal burghs of Haddington and Lauder, which merchants will have used.
Wool was carried north from Lauderdale and grain was brought south from East Lothian. Whalplaw burn flowed into the Cleekhimin burn and the group followed this to Cleekhimin Bridge and the waiting coach.
Little is known of the origin of “cleekhimin”. One local meaning has been identified as thatched farm steading in indifferent repair.
The alternative walk was a very pleasant rural ramble following a historic right of way known as the Girthgate.
The Girthgate, or sanctuary road, is believed to have connected Soutra Hospital and Melrose Abbey (founded in 1164 and 1136 respectively).
Malcolm IV is said to have founded the hospital for lodging travellers.
From older OS maps, the Girthgate followed a similar line to the better known Dere Street which was established by the Romans.
The Girthgate has also been identified as the “via regia” or royal road referred to in a Melrose charter of 1180.
The ramblers started at the old village of Oxton and followed paths and farm tracks down to Lauder Common, which is part of the route of the local historic common riding.
In Lauder, the boundaries of ‘the Common’ were marked not by field boundaries but by a number of Cairns. The burgesses rode from cairn to cairn and it fell upon newer or younger men to fill their pockets with stones to place upon each cairn in turn.
This practice was abandoned when it was found that the pockets contained not stones but bottles of refreshment to be consumed at each cairn.
The group passed a number of the cairns and the only refreshment on hand was water. From the common, the group followed the farm paths down to the waiting coach at Threepwood.
Both groups then enjoyed their social time in Dalkeith.
The club was scheduled to visit the East Lothian coastal town of Dunbar at the weekend.
Check out www.duncanrig.com for details on all club activities.
Visitors welcome.